Coin-actuated mechanism for telephones.



No. 644,653. A. F. WINES, Decd. Patented Mar. 6, 1900.

` W. S. l. WINES, Administrator.

00|" ACTUATED 'MECHANISM FUR TELEPHONES.

(Application led Sept. 15, 1897.)

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PATENT ARTHUR F. WINES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; W. S. J. IVINES ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID ARTHUR F. WINES, DECEASED.

COIN-ACTUATED lVlECHANlSiVl FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,653, dated March 6, 1900.

Application filed September 15,1897. Serial No. 651,710. (No model.)

.To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. WINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Actuated Mechanisms for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient coin-actuated mechanism for closing a telephone signal-circuit and giving a signal; and the invention consists of the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a coin-actuated circuit-closer constructed in accordance with my improvements and taken on the line l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 2, a similar elevation taken on the line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3,a similar view taken on the line 3 of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in position to receive a coin; Fig. e, a similar elevation to that shown in Fig. 3, with the parts moved and ready to make contact; Fig. 5, a similar view to that shown in Fig. 4, but showing the parts in position with the contact made and circuit closed; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the suspended lever; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the push-bar; and Fig. 8, a conventional diagrammatic view of a telephone-circuit, showing my improvements applied thereto.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that automatic or coin-actuated mechanisms have taken the place of operators at what are known as public, pay, or toll stations. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a means for receiving the coin of the desired denomination and to notify the operator at the central station that such coin has been deposited and to protect the user and owner alike-that is, to provide a mechanism in which a signal is guaranteed with every coin dropped into the box and to protect the owner of the telephone system in such a way that but one signal can be obtained from any one coin.

The principal obJ ect of my invention, therefore, is to provide means for obtaining these results, and further objects will appear from an inspection of the drawings and a reading of the following specification.

In constructing a coin-actuated mechanism 5 5 in accordance with my improvements I provide what I prefer to term a suspended lever A, which is normally pivoted or fulcrumed on the rod or bar a. The means for 'holding the suspended lever normally pivoted 6o tion ct, which has a lug o2 arranged thereon, 65

and a curved portion d3, arranged at about the same point, so as to provide a stop and limit the movements of the coin. The lower part of this lever, as shown in Fig. 3, is arranged in the path of a coin-channel C, so that as the 7o coin rolls down such channel it engages the curved portion of the lever and is prevented from rolling into the box thereby. This lever is made in such a manner that when the coin is dropped in the box, asshown in Fig.

3, the advance or inward push of the lever changes its fulcrum from the bar a, to the upper point of the coin, as shown in Fig. 4. It will thus be seen that the lever operates in a dierent manner with the coin in place than 8o if no coin were there, as with the fulcrum changed it moves so that its lower end almost touches the terminals D D of an electric circuit. As the looselysuspended lever is pushed in farther its lower end is passed over 8 5 the coin and the coin drops into the box. The lower end of the lever continuing its motion contacts the terminal D' and forces it into engagement with the terminal D, thereby closing the local circuit, as will be hereinafter 9o described, and sounding an alarm.

It will be seen from the foregoing that if the coin were not placed in the box the lever could be pushed lin without closing the contact-that is, with the bar ct as a pivotal point the lower end of the lever would swing by, not contacting the terminals. At the same time it will be noticed that only one contact can be made by each coin, for the reason that the lower end of the pivotal lever must pass to) over the coin before it can contact the terminals and close the circuit, also that the coin will pass down through the passage c in the coin-channel into the box. The moment the circuit is closed electric current is furnished to the buzzer E and an alarm sounded by means well known to those skilled in the artthat is, there are variations in the intensity of the current, which cause like variations at the other end or receiving station and notify the operator that the proper coin has passed through the slot.

To operate or push in the suspended lever, I provide a push-bar G, such push-bar carrying a pin g, which contacts with the lever, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to operate the same by the final movement of the push-bar, permitting it to return to its normal position when such bar is moved out. This push-bar is provided with a curved portion g', shown particularly in Fig. l, which just spans a coin when pushed in and prevents a second coin from dropping into position until the push-bar and pivotal lever assume their normal position. (Shown in Fig. 2.) It will thus be seen that a contact is absolutely assured for every coin dropped into the box.

In Fig. 8 I have shown in a conventional manner the ordinary telephone circuit, in which lis the hand-telephone, 2 the mouthpiece, 3 the generator, 4 the bell, 5 the battery, 6 the buzzer on the local or alarm circuit, and 7 and 8 the terminals. XVh'en it is desired to use the circuit, the coin is dropped into the box, the push-bar pushed in, and the terminals 7 and 8 closed, so that the current Iiows from battery 5, through wire 9, through the terminals 7 and 8, buzzer 6, by wires l0 and Il and I3, and back by wire I4 to the battery, thus closing the circuit, showing the ordinary battery of the telephone, which, operating the buzzer, produces a rapid interruption of the circuit, and consequently the same action takes place at the .opposite end of the system or in the central station, thus notifying the operator that the proper coin has passed through the slot.

The principal advantages due to the use of a coin-ac tuated mechanism constructed in accordance with myimprovement are, first, the simplicity; second, the guarantee that the user will get a signal for every coin dropped in the box, and, third, that the owner of the system is protected, in that but one signal can be' obtained for one coin.

I claim- I. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination'of a suspended lever, a fulcrum or pivot on which the leverlooscly hangs in normal position and awayfrom which it is capable ot' being moved, a coin-channel arranged to have the insertion of a coin change the fulcrum-point of the lever, and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

2. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an electric circuit having a pairof terminals, a suspended lever normally prevented from contacting the terminals and means adapted to change the fulcrum of the lever when a coin is inserted and close the electric circuit, substantially as described.

3. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an electric circuit embracing a pair of terminals, a suspended lever normally prevented from contacting the terminals, a coin-channel arranged adjacent to such lever so that acoin when inserted will engage the lever, change its fulcrum-point and permit it to contact and close the terminals, and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

4. In mechanisms ofthe class described, the combination of an electric circuit embracing a pair of terminals, a suspended lever, a coin projection on the lever, a coin-channel arranged so as to bring a coin into engagement with the lever whereby as the lever is operated its normal fulcrum-point is changed the terminals contacted and closed, and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

5. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an electric circuit embracing a pair of terminals, a suspended lever, a spring to hold the lever on its fulcrum-points, a coin projection on the lever, a coin-channel arranged so as to bring a coin into engagement with the lever whereby as the lever is operated its normal fulcrum-point is changed the terminals contacted and closed, and means for operating the lever, substantially as dcscribed.

6. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an electric circuit embracing a pair of terminals, a suspended lever, a coin projection on the lever, a coin-channel arranged so as to guide a coin into engagement with the projection on the leverso as to change its normal fulcrum-point contact the terminals and close the circuit, and a push-bar for such lever provided with a guard to admit one coin at a time, substantially as described.

'7. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an electric circuit embracing a pair of terminals, a suspended lever, a spring to hold the lever on its fulcrum or pivotal points, a coin projection on the lever, a coinchannel arranged so as to guide a coin into engagement With the projection on the lever so as to change its normal fulcrum-point contact the terminals and close the circuit, and a push-bar for such lever provided with a guard to admit of one coin at a time, substantially as described.

8. In a coin-actuated mechanism, the combination of a suspended lever having at one end a horn or extension supporting the lever in normal position, a fulcrum or pivot over which the horn of the lever loosely hangs in normal position and away from which it is capable of being moved, a coin-channel delivering a coin in the path of travel of the acting end of the suspended lever, and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

9. In a coin-actuated mechanism, the conn IOO IIO

bination of a suspended lever having at one end a horn or extension supporting the lever in normal position and having at its opposite end a toe or catch, a fulorum or pivot over Which the horn of the lever loosely hangs in normal position and away from which it is capable of being moved, a coin-channel delivering a coin in line to be engaged by the toe or catch of the suspended lever and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

10. In a coin-actuated mechanism, the oombination of a suspended lever, a coin-channel arranged for the insertion of a eoin to change the fulerum-point of the lever and whereby 15 for operating the lever, substantially as de- 2o scribed.

ARTHUR F. WINES.

Witnesses:

EPHRAIM BANNING, THOMAS B. MoGREGoR. 

